What is the Mental Health Parity Act?
The Mental Health Parity Act is a law that was passed in Tennessee in 2006. It requires that health plans and insurers offer mental health coverage and services that are equal to or greater than their physical health coverage. This means that services such as counseling, therapy, and medication for mental health must be provided at a similar cost, access, and quality that’s comparable to physical health services. Under the Act, insurers and health plans are required to have the same annual maximums, deductibles, co-pays, and out-of-pocket costs for mental health and physical health services. The law also prohibits insurers from setting different utilization review standards for mental health and physical health services. The Act also requires that the definition of medical necessity be consistent when it comes to mental health and physical health services. In addition, the Mental Health Parity Act prohibits insurers from denying coverage or requiring pre-authorization for mental health treatment unless the same criteria is applied to physical health services. The law also states that insurers must provide mental health services in the same manner as they would physical health services. Overall, the Mental Health Parity Act seeks to ensure that individuals that are suffering from mental health conditions have access to the same quality of care and coverage for mental health services that those who have physical health conditions receive.
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